HGV speed limit increase evaluation: final report

The Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to provide an evidence-base, analysis and reasoned opinion on whether or not there is likely to be any road safety risk involved in increasing the speed limit of HGVs exceeding 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway de-restricted roads from 40mph to 50mph (or possibly 45mph). Based on analyses of accident data sources Stats19, On-The-Spot (OTS), and the Heavy Vehicle Crash Injury Study (HVCIS), analysis suggests that the maximum potential increase in the average speed would be about 3mph and an increase in HGV21 speed would be likely to make only a small difference to the number of fatal accidents.